Patrick Murray was fined after being told to park in a disabled space (Picture: BBC)
Only Fools and Horses star Patrick Murray said he had been slapped with a ‘devastating’ fine after parking in a disabled space at McDonald’s five years ago.
The actor, best known for playing Mickey Pearce in the beloved sitcom, who was diagnosed with lung cancer after getting the all clear, said he was instructed to park in a spot by a sever as he awaited his food.
The Pink Panther star said he complained to the manager after receiving a fine for less than £100 at the time but has now, years later, been sent ‘countless letters’ from a private parking firm demanding he pay £2800.
Patrick wrote on X: ‘5 years ago I received a private parking ticket for parking on a disabled spot at Mcdonald’s.
‘I went back and saw the manager complaining that I was asked by the server to park up there to await my food. The initial ticket was less than £100.
‘I am getting countless letters from a company demanding I pay £2800 in or face having my personal goods removed. There was no court order to say I owed this debt.’
A private parking company is seeking a £2800 fine from Patrick (Picture: PA)
Patrick said the incident happened five years ago and he had received ‘countless’ letters’ (Picture: BBC One)
Patrick then pointed out the nearly £3000 sum could be ‘devastating for many many people’ as he called for tighter regulations around the practices of private parking firms.
The Firm actor has kept his fans updated with his health since revealing his cancer diagnosis and has spoken frankly about the intense pain he has endured since the disease returned.
‘It has been absolute agony, murder,’ he said in April.
Patrick said the fine could be ‘devastating’ for many people (Picture: ITV/REX/Shutterstock)
‘Every time I put my weight on my legs and hips I’m screaming in my head as I’m trying to walk.
‘The loo for me is ten yards away, and when I get there, I feel like I’ve walked halfway round the world,’ he added when speaking to The Sun.
However, Patrick said after starting radiology treatment the pain was ‘getting less’.
More recently, Patrick detailed an aborted trip to A&E after facing a 10-hour wait to see doctors.
Patrick is currently undergoing treatment for lung cancer (Picture: ITV/REX/Shutterstock)
‘Ten hours waiting in A&E is unacceptable,’ he posted on X. ‘I gave up and went home.’
‘The workers are wonderful, but the system is seriously flawed.’
He added: ‘The NHS needs fixing, not hollow promises.’
Patrick previously explained that he was told about the return of his cancer after going through an operation that involved cutting away two-thirds of his liver to relieve another cancerous tumour.
He said he was feeling ‘positive’ as he had been reassured by his doctor that he was ‘confident’ the chemotherapy ‘will keep things in check for months and even years.’
Patrick was first diagnosed with lung cancer in July 2021 and underwent an operation in October that year to remove the tumour.
In May the next year, he told fans he was ‘cured’ and the tumour in his liver was shrinking but in January last year he revealed a second cancer had been found.
Patrick played Mickey Pearce in 20 episodes of Only Fools and Horses between 1983 and 2003.
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After Only Fools and Horses ended, Patrick went on to appear in movies including The Firm and Curse of The Pink Panther, later quitting acting to work as a taxi driver in Kent.
Metro.co.uk has contacted McDonald’s for comment.
Only Fools and Horses is streaming on Prime Video.
Macmillan cancer support
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You can contact their helpline on 0808 808 00 00 (7 days a week from 8am to 8pm), use their webchat service, or visit their site for more information.
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He said he had recieved ‘countless’ letters demanding the money.